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'Shrek the Musical' hits stage tonight

Proceeds benefit the Stop Bullying program

Donkey (Jacob Reyes) begs Shrek (Richard Owen) to take him with him on his journey to Duloc, during a rehearsal for Sterling Miracle Players "Shrek the Musical," which runs today through Sunday at the Dorothy Corsberg Theatre. (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)

STERLING — — Humpty Dumpty, the Ugly Duckling, Three Blind Mice, the Gingerbread Man. All of your favorite fairy-tale characters will come to life in Sterling Miracle Players' latest production, "Shrek the Musical," set to hit the stage tonight.

"Shrek the Musical" is something the theatre organization has wanted to do for several years now, but the rights to the show only recently became available to community theatre groups.

"When we first heard it was coming out three years ago, on Broadway, we thought we had to do it," said director Dana May.

Rehearsals for the production started in May and the cast is excited to show off what they've been working on.

"We've put a lot of hard work and effort into this, plus it's funny," said Donnie Wright, who plays Pinocchio.

The audience is sure to have a good time as the musical is "hilarious," said April Martin, one of the Three Blind Mice. It also doesn't hurt that it's for a good cause; part of the funds raised will benefit the photo project, Stop Bullying!

"What better way to support stopping bullying than Shrek," said Richard Owen, who plays the title character.

The cast said they wanted to be involved in the musical for a number of reasons.

"After you watch the movie, you're dying to try something like that," said Caralynn Thomas, who is another one of the Three Blind Mice.

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Cory Schellenger, who plays Farquaad, enjoys the opportunity to do "some crazy stuff."

"You get to step out of yourself for awhile," Owen added.

The play has also given the cast something to do, so they get out of the house.

Cast members have had a lot of fun with the production, doing a storytime at Sterling Public Library and organizing a flash mob that performed at Wal-Mart last weekend.

They've also enjoyed getting to meet new people and "doing something for yourself."

Lord Farquaad (Cory Schellenger) tries to get information from Gingy (Cyntera May), as one of his goons (Byrony Trump) looks on, during a rehearsal for Sterling Miracle Players "Shrek the Musical." (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)

"It's a way to get to spend time with friends and do something good for the community," Owen said.

The musical tells the story of an ogre named Shrek, who is contentedly living alone in his swamp when fairy-tale beings start showing up on his property and disrupting his solitude.

All the fairy-tale characters have been exiled from the Kingdom of Duloc, by order of Lord Farquaad. Shrek decides to travel to Duloc to see Farquaad to try to regain his privacy and along the way he rescues a talking Donkey, played by Jacob Reyes, from Farquaad's goons.

When Shrek meets him Farquaad agrees to give him his privacy back, if he rescues the girl Farquaad wants to marry, Princess Fiona, played by Jaci Mathis, who is trapped in a castle guarded by a dragon.

A variety of fairy-tale characters will take the stage for Sterling Miracle Players "Shrek the Musical." (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)

Adding to the musical is a live orchestra, made up of musical directors Don Johnson on bass and Annette Lambrecht on piano, as well as Lynnsey Lambrecht on baritone saxophone; Janelle Nicolaus on tenor saxophone; Cole Wise on trombone; Daria Kramer and Lee Lippstrew on percussion; and Byrony Trump on clarinet.

Also helping out are Stephanie Wright, Jaci Mathis and Cyntera May, choreography; and Ryder May, sound. Set design was done by the cast.

"Shrek the Musical" performances will be at 7 p.m. today, Thursday and Friday, 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, in the Dorothy Corsberg Theatre on the Northeastern Junior College campus.

Tonight will be a donation night; cost for the other performances is $10 per person. Children 2 and under get in for free. Tickets are available at Mega Music, Sterling Trophy Shop or sterlingmiracleplayers.com.

To find out more about SMP's future events visit their website or like them on Facebook.